How to Restore Faded Fiberglass with a Compound (Video)

Tips for safely using a polisher to restore your boat's finish. Presented by Boating Magazine. ...read more

Video Transcript

Today we’re going to talk about how to use a sander-polisher to refinish a heavily chalked and oxidized fiberglass boat finish. Here I’m using a Makita 9227C, this is my favorite tool for this job. Although I also use a short hold model. You want to make sure that the pad is centered by using a piece of pipe or a supplied tool like this on the backing pad. Then you apply a little compound. I like this Farecla product, English made, you can find it. You can put a little compound on your wool pad for compounding.

Now you don’t start the machine yet. Spread it around 3 or 4 foot section of the boat. If you start the machine right away you just splatter the compound all over the place and it will stain. You also notice that I’m working in the shade, you don’t want to apply compound in direct sunlight. Once you give it an even coat all around, let the machine get up to speed and keep the pad moving, overlaping the area you finished just before. Now this machine is moving that 1500 rpm. You read the directions on the can of your compound for the appropriate rpm to use for that product. That’s a lot of speed, you want to be careful when you get near D-rings on the transom or an engine fuel tank vent or any other hard obstruction. If the machine bangs against it, it can fly out of your hands. So do hold it securely and make sure the handle is screwed on tight.

Now once all the oxidation, scratches are gone away. You want to get yourself a clean rag and wipe it off buffing to a beautiful shine. Once I have got this compound off, I apply a coat of wax to keep the finish looking good. And that’s it, compounding ABC’s by Boating Magazine.

Video courtesy of Boating Magazine. See them at boatingmag.com. read less